Why You Should Invest In a Home Inspector

Sure a home inspector costs a little bit of money, but paying for one up front can save you thousands down the line. Read why we highly recommend getting your home checked out.

Looks Aren’t Everything

Would you buy a car without driving it first? Would you purchase clothing without making sure it fits? Then why buy a home—probably your largest expense—without getting it checked out first? Just because it looks good at first glance doesn’t mean you won’t find some “skeletons” in its closet later. Let’s take a look at a few things to consider in regards to home inspection.

What Does a Home Inspector Do?

A qualified home inspector will crawl under, look behind and step above windows, doors, walls and floors to discover anything that might be less than perfect. He will also make sure the home in its present condition is up to the city’s building codes, check if appliances work properly and report for possible termite damage. Checking on your electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems are also part of a home inspection.

Now that we have a little better understanding of what it is the inspector will be doing, how do you pick one?

How to Pick a Good Home Inspector

If your real estate agent doesn’t refer you to an inspector initially, check out the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). This is a great resource where you can research and select a home inspector that’ll have your best interest at heart.

ASHI will show you some listings (get it?) for home inspectors, but how do you make sure you choose the right one? One way is to take a look at the inspectors we’ve vetted for you through our Featured Vendor Partners Program. Contact your areas Select Homes Office and see who we would recommend. In addition it’s all about:

Asking the Right Questions

Who… is this person?

What… are their credentials? What was their job before they became an inspector?

Where… did they get training?

When… did they do any further professional education to keep training current?

How… long have they been an inspector? How many homes have they inspected?

Be There, Be Engaged

Attending the inspection isn’t mandatory, but keeping an eye on the inspection will give you insider insights, and help in your decision when purchasing a home. Reading the report is good, but being there can make all the difference. Make sure and schedule enough time for the inspection, it can take half a day in some instances. You might need to use some vacation time at work, but being there can save you thousands in the long run.

The Report

Once completed, the inspector will write a written detailed report of what he finds. Note the following:

No home is perfect. The report might be lengthy or contain multiple issues.

Reports aren’t pass/fail. In most cases you decide what needs to be fixed and what can wait until you purchase the home… if you buy.

In addition to stating what is wrong, a good inspection report will estimate the cost to fix or repair the problem areas.

The report isn’t a warranty. Issues might occur after you buy this home, but you can be prepared (financially, emotionally) because of what a report states.

The Last Step is the Worst, The Payment

Home inspection prices can vary by quite a bit, but you should plan to pay between $226-$318 according to homeadvisor.com. Keep in mind larger houses typically cost more to inspect then smaller homes, so if you are looking at mansions- the cost might be higher. While spending your hard earned income is never fun, but it will be one of the best investments you make throughout the home buying process.

Additional inspections or tests you might want to consider are as follows:

Radon

Asbestos

Mold

Lead

Sewer Scope

The cost of these services vary.

Why Wait?

The choice to hire a home inspector is yours to make. It will definitely cost you a little more in the end, but remember that buying a home might be the single biggest investment you make. With so much on the line, wouldn’t you rather have a professional look it over before you move in?

Selecting a home inspector is only one small part of the real estate process. At Select Homes Team Real Estate we make it our mission to help you navigate the process and get your home sold for what it’s really worth. Our knowledgeable agents specialize in the buying and selling of homes, so whatever you’re in the market for we can help!

About the Author

Debbie Kubik Evert juggles several part-time jobs (writing, research, dog sitting) and often spends her free time gardening, coloring and creating personalized products for friends and family. She was born and raised in Wichita, graduating from Southeast High School. She continued her education and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism. Debbie shares her home with labradorable Cocoa.